Thursday, November 19, 2009

This was the week for judging the Birthday Her Way contest. Yours truly got to step in as an official judge this time as Julienne had other duties to attend to. I was both honored and perplexed by the opportunity--honored because we had such great cards to choose from and perplexed because we had SO MANY GREAT CARDS TO CHOOSE FROM!

Here's our "A" bucket, the front-running cards from filtering:

First, we each go through the "A" bucket on our own and choose the cards we have "winner" potential. It's a chance for each judge to cast her vote, so to speak.

This time we agreed on most of the winning cards. It just took a little conversation and convincing to choose the remaining few. We're so agreeable (mostly).

After our final decisions were made, Kenya raced to the phone to call the winner-winner-chicken-dinners. Hooray! Look for video of that here soon.

Monday, November 16, 2009

It's been a while since we announced the winners of our That's Motherhood contest, but we couldn't forget to send them their hard-earned moolah. Oooh, look at that prize money. Can't you almost smell it? Those of you who entered the Birthday Her Way contest--a check like these could be coming your way soon if your card is deemed a winnah! Look forward to the judging action later this week. We'll be giving live updates from the judging room on Twitter and Facebook tomorrow!

Friday, November 13, 2009

We had ourselves an extra pair of eyes in the latest Birthday Her Way filtering session. Pita, our unofficial mascot, generously offered her assistance at judging the entries. She claims she's got a nose for these things (and a penchant for puns, apparently).

Pita and the team noticed some distinct trends among the entries today. We saw lots of nature, pets, babies and butts. It seems people can't resist a good butt shot when they have the chance. We're curious to see if we'll get more of a variety over the weekend. It's always nice to see a fresh, "we've never seen that before" kind of card. Those are the types that have us clapping and cheering and bugging the people in the room next to ours.

If you haven't sent in your original, Birthday Her Way card yet, what are you waiting for? You've got until Sunday at the stroke of midnight.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Today, we had another fun-filled filtering session for the Birthday Her Way contest. Was your card in the mix? If not, send it in by Sunday at midnight so it has a chance to make you a winner. This could be your card we're oohing and ahhing (and Tweeting) over.

Julienne does the honors of reading all the entries out loud for the team. If it takes us too long to "get" it, it doesn't go in the potential winner pile. Before sending in your card, give it to a few friends for a read-through. If your message trips them up, a few tweaks could be in order before you officially enter your card.

It's anyone's guess as to what these lovely ladies are thinking. What do their expressions say to you?(Clockwise from left: Shannon, Kenya, Julienne, Theresa, Karen)

Friday, November 6, 2009

In need of some inspiration for the Birthday Her Way contest? Look no further. I've rounded up photos of some of the women in my family to show you which ladylike pics I would enter if I could. Prepare to be impressed.

Look at this well-mannered woman. Isn't she just the picture of gentility?

A good hair day can make all the difference.

Just practicing for old ladyhood.

Real Grandma. Real gutsy.

If you haven't already entered the Birthday Her Way contest, get to it by Nov. 15! Surely you have some photos of the feisty females you know. Why not make them card stars? If you're fresh out of photographic inspiration, try your hand at designing a card. Either way, make it all about the birthday girl.

Monday, November 2, 2009

When we go through the rigorous process of judging all the card submissions, we are looking at the cards from every which way. In the end, the winning cards are those that had that extra something special, the extra *zing*, if you will, and that special something is different for each card.

Visit the winners' gallery and check out our team's comments on each winning Birthday His Way card. Leave your own comments for the winners, too. They'd love to know what you think of their card creations.